The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-13

ICOpyTtJhts1, 1896, Oy H. LOLiTOp &c o., ana
Published by Special ATTdngsuent.l
CHAPTER XV.-CoSTINUED.
"Wcll, by gracious! this beats all the
rides ever / tOokr' said Joe, as ten
minutes later, with Tad at his side, he
drove slowly toward Bixport. while the
detective followed close behind, with
his captive.
Me, too"' returned Tad, who was
holding the recovered sachel very
tightly.
Won't folks eyes stick out, though,
when they come to hear all abO:t it,
Tomorrow and Tad replied that he
rather guessed so, and then, opening
his heart, he told his companion the
whole story, from beginning to end, at
which recital, as the stories say, Joe :
establishment can better be imagined
than described.
Leaving Joe explaining to the Won
dering crowd that had assembled be-
fore Potter's, their joint share in the
exciting incidents of the evening, Tad,
hugging the sachel under one arm,
while across the other was thrown the
circular cloak, hurried, with joyous
steps, back to Miss Smiths.
Bursting impetuously into the sit
ting-room, where sat the little com
pany, to which Mr.. Mason, who had
'gloomily returned from an unsuccess-
full search for a deputy sheriff, had
Joined himself, Tad tossed the long
lost sachcl into the lap of Mr.. Ather-
ton, thereby causing him to drop the
paper he had been perusing upside
down, and, with it, his dignified reserve
TO such an extent that he exclaimed:
''Gracious goodness for which he at
once apologized, as his trembling
fingers applied the little key to the
kep-hole; while Tad, with his politest
bow, presented astonished Mrs. Mason
with her recovered jewelry and the
fur-lined circular.
The dress was all mud, and Striddled
from top TO bottom, Or I'd brought
that, too" he added, as Mrs. Mason,
with an exclamation of delight, re-
ceived her recovered property; while
her husband gazed at smiling Tad in a
Nazed sort of way, and whistled softly
10 himself, a. one whose feelings were
too deep for adequate expression.
Tad, you're IA jewell" said Miss
Smith, energetically; and very much
to Tad's establishment, but to his secret
qualification, the maiden lady inn
printed a sounding kiss upon his blush
ing cheek, while Captain Flagg shook
hands with him vigorously, with a
muttered reference to chainin' up a
child in the way he'd ought to go,
SOS when he's old he won't go to
strayin' off Polly said nothing in
words, but rejoicing sparkled in her
eyes, and praise was apparent in her
beaming smiles. With the list in one
hand Mr.. Atherton was rapidly run
ming over the contents of the alligator
skin sachel.
Gold star pendant, solitaire drops,
diamond ring, bracelet and papers
um-ycs, every thing seems to be here, :"
he said, with look of intense salts
faction, as. dropping the list into the
mouth of the bag, which he carefully
relocked, the dignified gentleman re-
garded the company with something
like affability.
Regarding the matter Of-er-re-
ward" continued Mr.. Atherton, draw
lot
and glancing benignantly at Tad, who
stood in awkward silence, while all
present looked on expectantly, Il feel
pleased to be able to beStOw it upon so
-a-worthy a-er-youth as the one
to whom it rightly belongs" selecting
as he spoke some crisp bank-notes from
their receptacle, and placing them on
the light stand; land, with a gracious
inclination of his head to Miss Smith,
81 may venture to prophesy that, if he
needs the teachings of the estimable
lady whose acquaintance l have been
fortunate enough to make in this uneX-
pected manner, he will eventually rise
to-er-a position of-Of-it may be
Presidential honor-who knOws?"
And satisfied that he had said about
the correct thing, Mr.. Anterior
gathered up his belongings, and, re-
the remainder of the inter
,eSted party by comprehensive bow,
took his departure for the hotel with
great inward civilizations; and as he left
early on the following morning, he
thus passes out of my story.
CHAPTER XVI
The Flags, in high state of pleas
urable excitement-all talking very
fast-united in congratulating Tad so
warmly on his good fortune that
it was some little time before
they left Miss Smiths house for
their own home. Then Mr.. Mason